35 Ways We're Environmentally Friendly
The Woodridge Park District is
41 Steps (and counting) Village Greens is helping to protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and improve the health our of patrons, plants, and wildlife.
1) In 2009, Village Greens won the nationwide 'Green Golfer Challenge' sponsored by the Audubon Society by enrolling the most
2) Village Greens employees make a concerted effort to turn lights off in a room when not in use, or when daylight is sufficient.
3) Village Greens has replaced their exits lights with energy efficient LED bulbs
4) Village Greens recently repainted offices and the food and beverage area with VOC-free paint (2010)
5) Village Greens has completed an environmental facility audit with S-C-A-R-C-E (2010), and is working with S-C-A-R-C-E on a multitude of environemental issues.
6) Village Greens has created this webpage to announce our achievements and inform our patrons on environmental practices that benefit our customers and our environment.
7) The Village Greens clubhouse was designed to take advantage of natural light with a lot of windows, reducing the need for artificial lighting.
8) New, Energy Star rated televisions were installed in the banquet area in 2009.
9) Village Greens has designated a site to begin composting kitchen scraps and food materials. Construction of the compost bins will begin shortly, and the finished material (compost) will eventually be used to improve the soil in our flowerbeds throughout the course.
10) Village Greens is making a concerted effort to replace light bulbs with energy efficient ones as old bulbs burn out. We are also working with a local utility company on a potential grant to convert all of our fixtures to highly efficient quality.
11) Village Greens is currently recycling products through Waste Management, and we're in the process of expanding our recycling opportunities throughout the facility.
12) Village Greens has converted almost 15 acres of our facility to Native Areas in non-play zones. Native areas serve several ecological and environmental functions, including maintaining a diversity of plants and animals, protecting ecosystems and ecological communities, improving water quality, minimizing erosion, fianancial and labor savings (passed on to the consumer!), reduced fuel usage, reduced equipment wear and tear, reduced pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer use, and increased wildlife sightings.
13) Village Greens conducts annual soil and water quality tests to track soil and water composition, monitor for contamination, and implements strategies for remediation of undesirable soil and water elements.
14) Village Greens has worked with 4 Eagle Scouts on a variety of community service projects, including the installation of over 30 nesting boxes, native area restoration, and invasive species removal.
15) Village Greens has achieved 100% natural shore lines around all bodies of water, which improves water quality and prevents erosion.
16) Reduced pesticide and fertilizer use
17) Whenever possible, Village Greens reuses golf pencils left behind by patrons.
18) Village Greens and the Woodridge Park District have formed a Green Team (Greens Works) and adopted an official logo
19) In 2009, Village Greens reduced fuel usage by 20% by changing mowing paterns and frequency, 'carpooling' more to job sites, and using more fuel efficient golf carts.
20) Village Greens is investigating options to install rain barrels around the clubhouse to capture and reuse rainwater.
21) Village Greens will be purchasing white hoses, which do not contain lead or other undesirable elements (green hoses do).
22) Village Greens installed foam soap dispensers in the restrooms to reduce soap usage by up to 80%.
23) Village Greens sells recycled content greeting cards in the pro shop
24) Village Greens sells bamboo golf tees (a highly renewable resource compared to wood tees) in the pro shop.
25) Village Greens resells reused golf balls in the golf shop
26) Village Greens has turned off the lights and removed the ballists in several refridgerators and coolers that do not require visible light to conservce electricity.
27) Village Greens makes a conscious effort to unplug kitchen appliances like a convenction oven and microwave when not in use.
28) Village Greens donates lost and found or donated golf clubs to charitable organizations instead of throwing them away.
29) Whenever possible, Village Greens uses native perennial plants in flowerbeds and naturalized areas.
30) When a tree or shrub is removed, Village Greens makes sure it's replacement is native to our area and provides a diversity of species throughout our property.
31) Village Greens purchased new maintenance free tee signs in 2009, eliminating the need for painting every year.
32) Village Greens reprogrammed thermostats in December, 2009, to reflect changing facility usage patterns. As a results, therm usage in January 2010 was reduced 11% vs. January 2009.
33) Village Greens preprogrammed our printers to print double sided instead of single sided, conserving paper up to 30%.
34) Village Greens uses T8 energy efficient flouresent bulbs throughout the clubhouse.
35) Village Greens removed the artificial decorative plants in the clubhouse, and replaced them with air purifying live plants.
